Social Media for Parents How can I help my child navigate their social media use? Topic of the month: Instagram This tells you how many people the user is following, which means they will see that many What is Instagram? users’ photos.

● Instagram is a photo and video social This tells you how many people follow the user, or how many people see the user’s posts. media app. (Videos can only be 1 minute long) Bio Section- a place to share a little ● Users can share 1-10 photos per post. information about the user. Students often tell who they are, share their interests and other ● Users can edit photos using filters to account names. change the way the photo looks. ● Users can post photos and videos that their followers can see, like, and comment This is the collection of the user’s on. posts. ● Photos of users show up in another users “Feed” Features of Instagram

DMs- click ● Direct messages (DMs). You can send direct messages to to send one or more people -- including people you don't follow and and read who don't follow you. (The website version of Instagram messages. doesn't support DMs.) IGTV- Click to ● Disappearing messages. This is a Snapchat-like feature search/view channels and to that lets you send timed photo or video messages that post. recipients can only view once before they disappear. ● Stories. These are 15-second videos or slideshows that Stories- Press circles to view users’ stories. live in a circle separate from other posts. To create one, tap Your Story, decide what kind of post you want to create -- text, photo slideshow, video, or livestream -- and select the Story Controls to limit the audience, restrict message replies, and allow sharing Home, Search, Add, ● Instagram TV (IGTV). These are longer-form videos Notifications - These programmed by Instagram (i.e., they're not by your friends icons allow you to search for users, view your Like, Comment, or or followers). Kids can also create their own IGTV channels notifications, and to add Send- You can click and broadcast themselves, sort of like on YouTube. photos/videos. these three icons to interact with a user’s post.

Source- https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/parents-ultimate-guide-to-instagram Rinsta vs Finsta…

Did you know… kids often have a “Real” account and a “Finsta” or “Spam account.”

Rinsta VS. Finsta ● “Rinsta” = REAL Instagram account ● “Finsta” = FAKE Instagram account ● Accounts are often public or have ● Accounts are often private with fewer many followers, possibly even followers, often only allow close followers that users do not know. friends to follow/see their photos. ● Used to post only images that are ● Images are often a TRUE filtered, posed, perfect photos of user representation of user, can be silly, ● Represents the user’s “best self” unfiltered, not perfect. through these heavily filtered photos. ● Used to express who the user truly is, but only to select viewers. Shared Accounts- Should I Worry?

A shared account is one that multiple users share. Many kids share one account’s username and password and multiple kids have access to post/share. ● All kids who are sharing this account are responsible for what is posted, even if they weren’t the one to do the actual posting. ● Students who share accounts will ALL be held responsible for anything inappropriate that is posted like bullying, harassment, hazing etc. ○ ie- If one student posts something that is inappropriate, all students who share that account will have consequences for that one person’s post. There is no way to tell who actually did the post when it is shared. ● Ask your student if they have a shared account, and discourage the use of those accounts, as they are not 100% safe for your children to have one. Even if it seems innocent, it’s very easy to make a mistake if a group shares one username and login. Tips for Safety

● Always keep your child’s username and ● Discourage the use of shared accounts. password so you can login on your device ● Create your own account and follow your and check use. child and their friends. ● Do random checks of the account to ● Don’t let your child take their phone to bed ensure proper use. or store it in their bedroom. ● Talk to your child about what is/isn’t ok to ● Monitor followers and who your child is post. following. If you think posts are ● Use the THINK acronym with your child to inappropriate for your child to see, talk help them process what they are going to about why they should unfollow that user. post before they post it. ● Limit screen time to help children have ○ Is it True? balance of screen time vs other activities. ○ Is it Helpful? ● Install a third-party monitoring app- an app ○ Is it Inspiring? like Bark can be used to see what kids are ○ Is it Needed doing on their devices. ○ Is it Kind? Resources

This video is a valuable look at teenage perspective. Common Sense Media is a great resource for parents to learn about all types of social media.

Ultimate Parents Guide to Instagram

If you have questions, or would like to suggest a topic for next month, email our technology integrationist, Jess VanOrman, at [email protected]